John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin for his Vice President candidate appears to be the first paragraph of his concession speech. There is simply no good reason to consider putting someone so shallow, so ignorant of foreign affairs, and so inexperienced in the world a heartbeat away from the presidency. And while the strategy is apparent it is an affront to American women to think they will vote along gynecological lines and not recognize the difference between Hillary Clinton and a self-described “hockey Mom†whose experience reads like that of some former Christian Girl Scout who was active in the PTA and who opposes the most basic of women’s rights. Simply put, it is an insulting- even dangerous – decision that ridicules McCain’s so-called expertise in national security matters.
As for the press and media, by and large they are behaving as expected. Fox news has anointed her as a “rising star†with one of their analysts saying she was very knowledgeable about international relations because she “lives near Russiaâ€. The NY Times headlines read: “Choice of Palin is a Bold Move by McCain, With Risks†and, “Palin, an Outsider Who Charmsâ€. The Washington Post chimed in: “With VP Pick, McCain Reclaims Maverick imageâ€, and “The Battle for Women Beginsâ€. The Boston Globe went with: “McCain Surprises with VP Pick†and, “Selection is a Bold, but Risky, Political Gambleâ€. The stakes are too high for such weak analysis.
None of this is funny. When Palin is measured against challenges like ending the Iraq War, dealing with Iran, working toward peace in the Middle East, addressing Russian petropolitics in the Caucuses and Central Asia, developing an effective relationship with an emerging government in Pakistan, and repairing America’s reputation in the world, she becomes the punchline in a bad joke. If the quality of a candidate’s judgment is a key factor in considering competence, McCain just gave the game away.
Game over.